Hard-scape Setup

By LitiAquaria - 10:41 PM

Finally, I could hands-on the hardscaping setup after many days preparation. To create the backbones of the aquarium, I have read and reviewed through many layouts and resources. It is really convenient to do research nowadays with tremendous resources from internet. Also, thanks to AquaticQuotient forum, I got many helpful advice from the experienced hobbyists. It makes the learning process much shorten and enjoyable.

I decided to choose triangle style for my first planted tank since I was so impressed by the work on "Sticks & Stones" layout from James Findley. This layout got sorted out after many trial on the available driftwood and stones that I have on hand. Process of hard-scape setup was described on the photos sequence below:-

I use this drain board to cover the tank bottom to prevent direct contact of stones to glass surface, which may cause crack due to point load. With this board, force would be distributed more equally on the glass surface.

Two drain board were nicely fit my 2ft tank

After that, ADA Amazonia Aquasoil (Powder Type) was added with slope upward to the right back corner.
I also use post-it notes and marker to draw the guiding lines which followed "rule of thirds" accordingly. The front part was marked with 2.5cm for minimum soil depth required, so that I would not keep it too thin.

Big piece of driftwood was put as the focal point of the aquarium. Counter part is a smaller piece on the other side. River pebbles were added that made me feel more balance.

From the top view, I tried to create more space for planting in later stage.

Plastic card case was used as substrate support in my layout.

Small pieces of plastic were used to support the substrate base

Substrate support was pegged into aquasoil and covered later by another thin layer later on to make it invisible.

Finally, the hardscape setup was done

I was quite happy with the final product and the process was really enjoyable. I also found out that sometimes the piece of driftwood or rocks that I like at the beginning might not be always suitable for my layout. So the more materials that you have, the better. More options, more choices. The next step is equipment setup. :)

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About me

When I was a child, I had an interest in keeping fishes, especially bettas and guppies. Just with a used beer bottle and a foxtail aquatic plant, you got it. Guppies at that time could be caught from the compound drains around my house. Together with my neighbor friends, we saved some money to buy bettas from a local fish shop. We treasured our fighting fishes and took well care of them before each battle. We even cried when our fighters lost the game. :P

Back to early 2016, my kid and my wife had shown an interest in having a small fish tank. I was thinking just to get a tank with a filter, a light lamp, some colour stones and some goldfishes. The next weekend, I went to the neighborhood library aiming to get a little more knowledge about fish tanks before I could resume my long-lost childhood hobby :P. On the bookshelf, I saw one about Goldfish and right next to it was “The Perfect Aquarium” by Jeremy Gay. I borrowed both and brought back home to carry out my research. The more I read “The Perfect Aquarium”, the more I was so into the world of planted tanks. Why everything seems so attractive and comprehensive when comes to planted tanks? Why there are so many types of filters? What are beneficial bacteria and why do planted tanks need them? People injected CO2 into the tank? Are they crazy? Everyone knows fishes need oxygen, right? So many questions popped up in my mind. I became so curious about planted tanks and very soon after, I started my first tank called “Passionately Curious”. And that is how the journey begins.

In this blog, I pen down the journey of not only my first planted tank “Passionately Curious”, but also other tanks and aquascaping related matters. You might find it helpful as I started as a noob and fresh beginner with so much curiosity! :)